The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-08-06
GEN. BEN. BUTLER.

He Is a Stranger Fear-His wife's Infiu-
ence Over Bim-Ris Work in New Orleans.
.Gaths'' Letter in Cincinnati Enquirer.
Among other persons l have seen abroad is
Mr.. Z. T. Netteton. who was colonel of the
Thirty-first Massachusetts Regiment in the civil
war, and Is now corporation counsel of Boston,
office to which he was elected, but which has
lapsed to be an Office of appointment. and
O'Brien found that he mad been intimate
with General Butler. though he is a mugwump,
and l said: When did you first become
auainted with Butler?"
l met him on his expedition to New Orleans
and was the ship with him. At the
time was captain from the region about
Plttsheld. was made the police officer of the
ship on which was General Buffers wife. / re-
collect some of his singularltiss as he went to
New Orleans. For instance. the first day out
was ordered to report to him after having set
the police. He said: Il will walk about the ship
with you, sir. Directly he came up to an officer
who was smoking cigar and splitting the
deck. Captain said he. haven't you got
enough spittoons out there in that vast ocean
without splitting tobacco juice the deckF In
little while he walked forward TO about the
forecaste, where portion of the men were al
lowed to come up in RELAYS and get the arr
They were all splitting. The General walked
before them. raised his voice, pulled his
cheeks, and said: Men, can't you spit in that
vast ocean. well as spit on the decksp
Finally, he walked me to the cooks room, which
had overlooked, supposlng that the regular
officers of the vessel were not under my police
surveillance Cook said Butler, roll that bar
rel out of here The barrel was rolled out and
it was found to be half full of sweepings and
trash, which the cook had thrown into it. Cap
TAIN said Butler. turning to me, do you call
this policing the shipP General said /, L did
not know that was TO interfere with the
tine officers of the vessel in my duties Sir.
said the General sedate and positive if he
had been an old veteran fifty years in the regular
army, every thing in this ship is under the d.
rect command of the general whose officer you
when you made his police commandanr."
Colonel Nettleton continued "Butler was
perfectly fearless man. / am not in favor of
him politically, but it is all humbug to say that
he feared anybody. When got down to
Frying pan shoals his vessel ran aground, broke
hole in her bow, and the water drove out the
troops stationed there. Assistance came out to
from the squadron shore, and first took off
Mrs. Butler. The next boat came out and the
officer called from it that 1t had been sent for
the General aButler shuffled his feet up, brought
himself to a solid present and called out, Gen.
Butler will be the last man to leave the ship
1t was q very good thing, for the soldiers gave
him cheer. and after that nobody had any ap-
prehensions about Buffers courage, because at
the time everybody wanted to get off that vessel
badly"
Where was he at the passage of the forts be-
He a small open boat, and he ordered
this boat. be carried right into the line of fire
when the'navy which had charge of the bonn
bardment was firing It's mortars. Cannons and
the forts were dong the very best they could
scene well calculated to terrify any novice He
pushed his tug into the midst of all this destruc
ton anG finally the captain hesitated to go on,
whereupon Butler addressed him: Captain,
go ahead and think you will find towards
here, sir He emphasized the word towards
and the captain got mad and said General
Butler. am as ready to go to hell AS you are.
SIR and on he went. Finally of Buffers
staff officers raised his voice against going on in
this boat, which had armor and no arms, and
was utterly unprepared for any defense. Butler
then went on down the river and he ordered one
of the ships of war to turn about and accompany
him. that he might land his troops in the
Of the forts. He did make landing there. but
in the meantime the forts had surrendered to
the navy. We then went up to New Orleans"
WAS Mrs. Butler a woman who had any in
huence over himW
'.Yes. decided influence. He was wrapped up
in her. There is thing every man must say
about General Butler who has been in associa-
ton with MIN, that he was true husband.
ing for no other woman than his wife, Her loss
was great blow to him."
what truth there about Butler being
predatory in New Orleans.g
''No truth except in the general fact that an
army officer of occupation like that, when it en-
ters into private house to use it for head-quar-
ters what it finds in the way of knives and
forks and spoons. and by the time the occupa-
ton is over there is not apt to be much left"
WAS there any occasion for Buffers order
about the women of New Orleans?'
The necessity for that order might be ques-
toned, but that the officers treated with
contumely by some of the ladies is unquestion-
able For instance, if any of our officers would
get into a street car the women would get out
They would walk past officer the pave
ment and draw up their skirts as * they were
afraid to have them con taminateG.
SIS 1t true that Butler prevented the yellow
fever when be WAS in New Orleans?"
Yes he instituted very thorough quaran-
tine system. and set his men to work to prevent
disease. and therefore, the federal occupation
of New Orleans one of the rnost healthy
periods in the history of that city"